JUST-IN: INEC Receives Petition To Recall Natasha From Senate

Some registered voters from the Kogi Central Senatorial District of Kogi State have submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, seeking the recall of the suspended Senator representing the district at the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

The petition dated March 21, 2025, was formally received by the office of Chairman of INEC on Monday, March 24, 2025.

Leader of the group, Concerned Kogi Youth and Women, Charity Ijoshe Omole, who submitted the petition at INEC headquarters in Abuja, said they have lost confidence in the suspended Senator because of her gross misconduct.

“We have lost confidence in her because of her gross misconduct that led to her suspension in the Senate and we the Kogi Central not being represented.

“We have come to recall her because we cannot afford not to be represented. This petition is from Concerned Kogi Youth and Women.

“We, the people of Kogi Central voted her in, and we are here to recall her. We have 488,000 registered voters and as I speak to you now, we have more than 250,000 voters who have signed for her recall,” Omole stated.

The petition addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and titled, “Constituents Petition for the Recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on grounds of Loss of Confidence” reads: “We, the undersigned being duly registered voters of the Kogi Central Senatorial District, hereby invoke our rights under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to formally demand the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Nigerian Senate.

“In particular, this petition for the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan is brought pursuant to Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended), as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall Petitions.

“Kindly recall that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emerged as our Senator by verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja on Tuesday October 31, 2023 which affirmed the Peoples Democratic Party PDP candidate as winner of the February 25, 2023 Kogi Central Senatorial election.

“This petition arises from our loss of confidence in the Senator on grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office, evasion of due process and a pattern of deceitful behaviour that has not only embarrassed the people of Kogi Central constituency but has also tarnished the integrity of the Nigerian Senate and our nation’s democratic institutions.”

Meanwhile, the assistant director of publicity in the INEC Department of Voter Education and Publicity, Esther Chibuikem, said the Commission was meeting on the petition.

“The Commission is meeting on Kogi recall process now. Committee room 22nd Floor INEC Headquarters,” Chibuikem noted.